Rawdon St John BEERE

Regimental number24/3
Date of birth28 December 1879
Place of birthWellington
AddressDay's Bay, Wellington
Marital statusMarried
Next of kinWife, Mrs Constance May Beere, Day's Bay, Wellington
Rank on embarkationMajor
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Samoan Advance Party, B Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 15 August 1914
Members of B Company left New Zealand on board two ships, HMNZT 1 'Moeraki' and HMNZT 2 'Monowai'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankLieutenant Colonel
Final unit4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


'Devotion to duty during the operations on the Somme when as 2nd-in-command he did excellent work from 20th September to 4th October 1916. Behind the lines he organised the forwarding of ammunition and supplies and by his constant personal effort kept these going up systematically, and at all times proved himself to be most resourceful.'
Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', 1 June 1917.

Mention in Despatches


'For good work and devotion to duty as a Battalion Commander. This Officer commanded his Battalion during the Messines Battle on 7th and 8th June1917, and showed fine qualities of leadership and organising ability. His work has always been of a high standard.'
Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', 28 December 1917.

Mention in Despatches


'For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period 16th September 1918 to 15th March 1919.'
Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', 11 July1919.

Medals

Distinguished Service Order

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This Officer was commanding 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, which carried out the attack at Puisieux-au-Mont on 21st August 1918. This operation was a most difficult one. His Battalion was allotted a very wide frontage and owing to the presence of villages there were gaps on both flanks. He showed great skill in supervising the forming up, and the fact that the attack was extraordinarily successful was largely owing to the care and attention. Again at Bapaume on August 25th 1918, his Battalion was ordered to attack. Notice was short but he led the men forward on a lone night march, in pouring rain, over un-reconnoitred ground to the point of assembly. The attack was again successful, but the troops on the left failed to advance. Though exposed to concentrated fire Lieut-Colonel Beere so re-arranged his disposition, and encouraged the men that the ground captured was successfully held against several counter-attacks. While performing his duty in this engagement he was wounded by shellfire, but returned to the field and resumed command of his Battalion early in November. He had at all times shown great enthusiastic energy and skill in the command of his Battalion.'
Source: 'London Gazette'
Date: 3 June 1919

Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: B Company/Samoan Adv & 2nd NZRB
Date of death19 May 1968 Wellington
Age at death88

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